hirebytaste · See the work before you hire

hirebytaste is a hiring service that connects companies with engineering candidates by having each candidate complete a real task drawn from the employer's own to-do list. The submitted work is graded and reviewed, and employers receive a score along with the finished work before holding a first interview. The company charges a $2,000 fee that is paid only when a candidate is hired, while engineers participate at no cost.

The first ten companies place their first hire free, and engineers are never charged a fee to participate. The $2,000 fee is only paid when a candidate signs an offer, meaning you pay nothing if you do not hire anyone. This pricing model avoids retainers or monthly fees for candidates you pass on.

Each candidate completes one real task from your own to-do list, which takes about one evening of work. The task is based on what the role actually does, and you approve it before anyone sees it. Candidates work at home on their own computer with whatever tools they normally use.

The grading model reviews the work the way a senior engineer would and fixes what it finds. The fewer fixes needed, the higher the score, with categories like '90 and up ready to ship' or 'under 60 not ready'. Employers get every fix marked on the work itself, with the reason for each one.

Some reviewers say the feedback on the work is detailed and helpful for understanding a candidate's strengths and weaknesses. The sample report includes a taste score, what needed fixing, and the finished work, giving employers a clear picture before an interview.

The service allows candidates to use AI while completing their tasks, as the team uses it at work. This means the test measures coding ability without artificially banning tools that are part of the modern engineering workflow.

The platform currently has 9 of 10 company slots left and 39 of 50 engineer slots left for Cohort 001. You can request a company slot or a task slot to join the program and start the hiring process.

The company compares its $2,000 fee favorably against recruiting agencies that charge 15 to 25% of salary and referral bounties of $5,000. It also eliminates the need for phone screens that often go nowhere during the hiring process.

The first hire is free for the first ten companies, making it a low-risk way to test the service. Engineers also benefit from a free, detailed feedback report that they can send to any company they are considering.

The process involves three steps: sending the job description, having candidates do the work, and receiving a graded report. The report includes specific examples of fixes needed, such as timing mistakes or memory leaks, to illustrate the candidate's skill level.

The company states that the task is about an evening of work, ensuring it is manageable yet comprehensive. The grading report explicitly lists what needed fixing, such as a missing response that tells apps when to retry.

The service is designed for information technology and services, computer software, and staffing and recruiting industries. It operates without a retainer or monthly fee, charging only upon a successful hire.

The company's website mentions that the grading model fixes what it finds, and the score determines readiness to ship. The report format includes a taste score out of 100 and a list of specific issues found in the code.

The official website of hirebytaste · See the work before you hire is hirebytaste.com.

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